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Mold Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Mold Maker works from designs to build and repair thermoplastic and thermoset injection molds to company standards. Our customers are automotive manufacturers and suppliers in one of the fastest ...

The Mold Maker works from designs to build and repair thermoplastic and thermoset injection molds to company standards. Our customers are automotive manufacturers and suppliers in one of the fastest ...

Interphase with Designers and PM's when areas are unclear * Write programs for machines * Set-up machines * Check shut offs, final fit, and assemble molds KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: (The finer details of ...

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Mold Designer information

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How much do mold designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for mold designer in the United States is $33.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.76 and $41.83 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Mold Designer Do?

As a mold designer, you use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create plastic molds for manufacturing processes. Your job duties include designing molds, using CAD software and programs like Pro-E, Unigraphics Drawing, Solidworks, and AutoCAD, and visiting manufacturing facilities to make sure your mold designs work correctly. You can fulfill the majority of your responsibilities in the office, but a good mold designer frequents the manufacturing floor to inspect their product. The qualifications to start a career as a mold designer are an associate degree in plastics engineering technology or tool and manufacturing technology, and five to eight years of experience in the field. You need excellent problem-solving skills for this job as well.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Mold Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Mold Designer, you need strong skills in mechanical design, CAD software proficiency, and a solid understanding of materials and manufacturing processes, often supported by an engineering degree or technical certification. Expertise in tools like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and mold flow analysis software is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication with production teams are essential soft skills. These competencies ensure the creation of precise, efficient molds that meet production and quality standards.

What is the difference between Mold Designer vs Mold Engineer?

AspectMold DesignerMold Engineer
ResponsibilitiesDesigns mold components and layouts based on product specifications.Develops and improves mold processes, troubleshooting, and testing.
Required SkillsCAD proficiency, understanding of materials, design principles.In-depth engineering knowledge, testing, and process optimization skills.
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, CAD labs, manufacturing facilities.Manufacturing plants, testing labs, R&D departments.
CertificationsCAD certifications, technical diplomas.Engineering degrees, certifications in manufacturing or plastics.

While Mold Designers focus on creating detailed mold designs, Mold Engineers oversee the entire mold development process, including testing and optimization. Both roles require technical skills and often collaborate closely, but Mold Engineers typically have a broader scope involving process improvements and troubleshooting.

What are some common challenges faced by Mold Designers, and how can they be addressed?

Mold Designers often encounter challenges such as balancing complex part geometries with manufacturability, minimizing cycle times, and ensuring tool longevity. Addressing these issues typically involves close collaboration with engineers and manufacturing teams to refine part designs, selecting appropriate materials, and leveraging simulation software to predict and resolve potential issues before production. Proactive communication and staying updated with the latest CAD and CAE tools can help Mold Designers overcome these challenges efficiently.

What are mold designers?

Mold designers are professionals who create detailed plans and blueprints for molds used in manufacturing processes, such as injection molding, blow molding, or casting. Their work involves designing molds that shape raw materials into finished products, ensuring efficiency, quality, and precision in production. Mold designers use specialized software like CAD to develop and test their designs before they are manufactured. They often collaborate closely with engineers, machinists, and production teams to optimize mold functionality and manufacturability.
What cities are hiring for Mold Designer jobs? Cities with the most Mold Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Mold Designer jobs? The most popular types of Mold Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Mold Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Mold Designer jobs include:
What are popular job titles related to Mold Designer jobs? For Mold Designer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Mold Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $70,500 per year, or $33.9 per hour.
Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Mold Designer

Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Mold Designer

chromalloy

Oldsmar, FL • On-site

$83K - $114K/yr

Other

Posted 25 days ago


Chromalloy rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

140th of 417 rated machine equipment manufacturers


Job description

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will be a key technical contributor within the Advanced Manufacturing Team, with primary responsibility for enabling machiningcentric manufacturability of turbine airfoils and related manufacturing tooling (injection molds, machining fixtures, inspection fixtures, etc.) from early design through production deployment. This role will focus heavily on advanced 4 and 5axis machining, supporting design for manufacturability (DFM), inspection strategy development, and establishment of robust manufacturing methods across Chromalloy’s global sites. 

The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on experience with complex airfoil and tooling machining, strong proficiency in NX CAD/CAM modeling, and the ability to bridge design intent, machining strategy, and inspection planning. Familiarity with gas turbine operation and airfoil coating systems is preferred to enable informed decisions across the full component lifecycle. 

What You'll Do

Design & Manufacturability

  • Lead DFM for 4- and 5-axis airfoil machining, influencing geometry, tolerances, and datum strategies for stable, repeatable production
  • Identify machining-driven NPI risk early and support toolpath and strategy development with site teams

NX Modeling & Manufacturing Models

  • Build manufacturing-friendly models (split lines, stock, feature definitions) and evaluate turbine tooling designs using advanced manufacturing methods
  • Serve as NX subject matter expert across manufacturing and inspection applications

Inspection Strategy

  • Define inspection strategies in lockstep with manufacturing; develop datum schemes supporting both machining stability and downstream inspection
  • Support CMM programming, scan strategies, FAI planning, and partner with Quality and Metrology on cost and cycle time

Site Coordination & Method Development

  • Partner with global sites to establish methods, validate process capability, and transfer machining and inspection intent
  • Support troubleshooting through launch and ramp-up; guide process qualification and method approval

Technical Leadership

  • Drive structured problem-solving to improve yield, cycle time, and process robustness across programs and sites
  • Mentor junior engineers in DFM, NX modeling, and manufacturing fundamentals

 

What You Bring

  • Bachelors in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Manufacturing Engineering
  • 8+ years of experience in aerospace or industrial gas turbine manufacturing, with a strong portion in airfoil machining and/or tool and die manufacturing. 
  • Proficiency with Siemens NX and ability to read CAD drawings or assemblies. 
  • Understanding of mold manufacturing processes including CNC machining, wire EDM, and grinding. 
  • Experience with injection molding processes and materials  
  • Deep hands-on experience in 4- and 5-axis machining of complex airfoil geometry and tight-tolerance surfaces
  • Strong GD&T, datum selection, and tolerance stack-up knowledge applied to complex hardware
  • Experience with machining-aligned inspection planning and CMM or optical measurement

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